5 Ways to Avoid Sports Injuries

Summer is around the corner and that means that you’ll most likely be playing more sports, especially outdoors. If you’ve been hibernating or even a little dormant over the colder months, hitting the court or field can be tough on the body. Take a few tips from Chris Walter, the Detroit Tigers strength and conditioning coach, in order to have an injury-free spring and summer.

1. Warm up

Muscles will perform better when they are prepped before jumping into intense physical activity.

2. Train to Play

In order to reach a certain goal, your training must bring you to the level you want to reach, not just close. Put yourself into real-time situations in terms of your own goals, otherwise your body might suffer when it’s faced with intense stress.

3. Routine

Pulled muscles, popped bones and all kinds of injuries can be prevented by building a workout routine. You can’t simply put your body in irregular, stressful positions out of the blue. You should be regularly conditioning the body and limbs to be ready for serious games or sessions that will include pressure on the body.

4. Hydrate

Be hydrated, all the time, not only during a game. When your body is constantly well-hydrated it will operate at its optimum state. A lack of hydration can lead to cramps.

5. Nutrition

Proper nutrition is an active body’s fuel. After any intense workout or game, feed your body the carbohydrates it needs to recover. A post-exertion snack should include healthy, complex carbs found in grains, green veggies, oatmeal, potatoes and beans.